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UNIVEBSITY   Of 
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LONG  ISLAND  PUBLICATIONS 


No.  i. 


A  FARC  Em  2  acts 


REPRINTED  BROOKLYN 


Only  a  few  copies  of  this  curious  work 
have  been  reprinted  for  private  distribution. 

BROOKLYN,  January,  1873. 


THE 

BATTLE   OF   BROOKLYN 

A 

FARCE 


IN 


TWO  ACTS 

As  it  was  performed  on 

LONG     IS  LAND 

On  TUESDAY  the  2jth  Day  of  AUGUST,   1776. 

By  the  REPRESENTATIVES  of  the  TYRANTS  of 

* 

AMERICA 

Assembled  at  Philadelphia. 


For  as  a  Flea,  that  goes  to  bed 
Lies  ivith  his  tail  abo-ve  his  head : 
So  in  this  mongrel  State  of  ours , 
The  rabble  are  the  fupreme  powers  ; 
Who've  hors'd  us  on  their  backs,  to  Jbe-w  us 
A  jadijb  trick,  at  loft,  and  throw  us. 

HUDIBRAS. 


NEW   YORK: 

PRINTED  for  J.  RIVINGTON,  in  the  Year  of  the 
REBELLION,  1776. 


Dramatis  Personae. 

MEN. 

WASHINGTON  "| 

PUTNAM 

SULLIVAN  j-  Rebel  Chiefs. 

STIRLING 

LASHER  a  Shoemaker  of  New  York 

CLARK  a  Retailer  of  Rum  in  Connecticut 


Colonels. 


EBENEZER  Snuffle  a  New  England  Parfon  Chaplain  to 
General  Putnam. 

JOE  KING  Servant  to  Stirling. 
NOAH  Servant  to  Sullivan. 
SKINNER  a  Thief  employed  by  Putnam. 

WO  MEN. 
LADY  GATES. 
BETTY  her  Servant. 

Officers  and  Soldiers. 

SCENE,  partly  within  the  Rebel  Lines  at  Brooklyn  and 
partly  at  Gwanas. 


188 


"THE 


BATTLE  OF  BROOKLYN 


ACT  I.     SCENE  I. 

An  Apartment  at  Brooklyn. 
Enter  Stirling,  as  from  bis  bed-room,  rubbing  his 
head. 

STIRLING. 

Joe  !  honeft  Joe  ! —  Damn  the  Fellow,  where 
can  this  King  be ;  (looking  at  his  watch]  odfs, 
almoft  twelve  o'clock. 

Enter  KING. 

KING.  Why  here,  my  Lord  —  Devil  damme 
Sir;  pray  who  do  you  damn  fo  ? 

STIR.  My  dear  Joe,  the  cares  that  diftract, 
and  fplit  this  poor  head  of  mine 

KING.  Split! — Yes,  by  heaven!  you  drank 
flinkabus  enough  laft  night,  to  fplit  the  head  of 
an  Indian ! 

STIR.  Infolence! — in  future  know  me  for  your 
mafter  —  your  lord!  who  has  the  difpofal  of 
your  life. 

2 


i  o  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

KING.  I  muft  hold  a  candle  to  this  Devil. 
(AJide)  My  Lord,  I  afk  your  pardon  ;  I  meant 
no  harm,  but  only  as  an  old  acquaintance. — 
You  know,  my  Lord,  I  am  given  to  joking, 
and  you  formerly  encouraged  me  in  it,  when 
we  were  concerned  together  in  the  paper  manu 
factory. 

STIR.  Forgive  me,  honeft  Joe  —  the  public 
cares  fo  hang  upon  me,  that  they  quite  deftroy 
my  conftitutional  good  humor.  The  Regulars 
are  near  to  us,  and  every  moment  we  expect  them 
over  the  hills. 

KING.  Your  Lordfhip  has  fo  long  and  fo  uni 
formly  wifhed  to  meet  them,  that  I  thought, 
the  nearer  the  profpect,  the  better  you  would 
have  been  pleafed.  You  have  no  doubt,  my 
Lord,  of  fpitting,  and  roafting,  and  pickling 
thefe  red  coat  fellows. 

STIR.  We  are  to  meet  at  the  Church  this  day, 
to  determine  in  council,  what  to  do  with  them. 
I  am  for  furrounding — furround  !  is  the  word 
with  me  ;  if  they  were  twenty  times  the  number, 
I  fay  furround  them  all  ! —  But  thefe  gripes, 
Joe,  and  my  canteens  are  empty  ;  you  muft 
procure  me  fomething  for  them. 

KING.  O  heavens,  the  gripes  !  Zounds  !  a 
puncheon  of  Jamaica  to  have  the  gripes,  (afide) 
I  have  fome  peach  brandy,  my  Lord. 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  1 1 

STIR.  The  beft  of  all  poflible  things:  it  fo 
admirably  fits  a  man  for  the  cabinet  and  the 
field.  (A  knocking  at  the  door.)  What  can  that 
mean  ;  run  Joe  and  fee  who  knocks. 

KING.  I  go,  Sir.  (As  be  goes  be  obferves  Stir 
ling  s  countenance.)  Pale  and  trembling,  by  that 
auguft  body  the  Congrefs.  (Afide  and  exit.) 

STIR.  Thefe  bloody  fellows,  I  fear,  are  in 
motion.  I  hope  to  God  that  damn'd  rafcal 
King  will  be  mot;  he  has  been  my  evil  genius, 
ever  fince  I  was  concerned  with  him  in  counter 
feiting  paper  currency. 

Enter  King. 

Dear  Joe,  what  is  the  matter? 

KING.  Nothing,  but  to  defire  you  to  meet  the 
other  Generals  in  council,  two  hours  hence,  at 
the  church. 

STIR.  O,  is  that  all;  I  (hall  attend;  in  the 
meantime,  go  to  the  Commiflary  of  Rum,  and 
get  my  canteens  filled,  and  by  all  means,  my 
good  Joe,  be  at  home  when  I  return.  (Exit 
Sterling.) 

KING.  Canteens  filled — and  then  thy  whole 
foul  will  be  in  thy  canteens.  That  is,  if  he  has 
credit  enough  with  the  Commiflary,  to  get  his 
canteens  filled  with  rum,  he  will  belch  it  out  of 
his  ftomach  in  the  damn'deft  lies,  that  ever  dif- 


1 2  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

qualified  a  man  for  the  character  of  a  gentleman: 
and  yet  parfon  McWorther  bellows  from  his 
pulpit,  that  this  moft  ignobleman,  is  a  chofen 
veflel,  to  execute  the  Lord's  work. — Ill-fated 
country!  when  will  this  delufion  end?  (Exit.) 

The  Scene  changes  to  a  Jmall  Houfe,  in  a  Field: 
Cattle  and  Horfes  grazing. 

Enter  LASHER  and  CLARK. 

CLARK.  Behold,  Colonel,  thefe  flocks  and 
herds ;  with  the  fword  of  Gideon  have  I  made 
them  mine;  and  honeftly  collected  them,  in  the 
diftrict  allotted  to  me  by  our  agreement. 
•  LASHER.  I  rejoice  with  you  in  the  acquisition. 
My  harveft  from  the  Wallabocht  is  like  the  mir 
aculous  draught : — two  hundred  and  feven  head 
of  horned  beafts,  and  thirty-feven  horfes,  graze 
where  my  guards  direct. 

CLARK.  Favour  has  not  been  fo  amply  mani- 
fefted  unto  me  ;  for  from  the  farther!  verge  of 
Gwanas,  even  from  Cafpar's  houfe,  till  you  come 
to  Brewer's  mills,  one  hundred  and  nine  horned, 
and  twenty  eight  beafts  of  burthen,  were  all  I 
could  collect:  nor  was  there  companion  in  my 
foul  to  fpare  one  of  the  Kine  for  milk,  to  the 
offfpring  of  a  people,  who  believe  that  men  can 
not  be  faved  by  faith  alone,  without  works. 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  i  3 

LASH.  Impious  and  blafphemous  tenet;  de- 
ftructive  of  Republicanism  and  intoleration.  I 
doubt  whether  fuch  people  mould  be  fpared  from 
the  fword. —  But,  brother  Clark,  to  fecure  what 
we  have  thus  obtained  by  a  ftrong  hand,  and 
mighty  arm,  was  affigned  to  your  care  and  pru 
dence. 

CLARK.  That  I  am  not  unworthy  of  the  truft, 
you  are  to  know,  that  nine  of  our  {loops  will, 
this  day,  be  difcharged  from  the  continental  fer- 
vice :  to-morrow,  they  will  be  ready  at  the  ferry 
to  receive  the  fpoil.  Every  fifth  beaft,  by  lot, 
is  to  be  the  wages  of  their  fafe  delivery,  at  New 
Haven,  in  Connecticut,  the  residence  of  the 
faithful.  But,  we  being  fellow  laborers,  if  you 
approve  —  Tabitha,  the  wife  of  mybofom,  mail 
be  charged  with  the  care  of  your  cattle. 

LASH.  Be  it  as  thou  haft  faid  ;  at  her  hands 
will  I  require  them  ;  and  as  I  had  allotted  to 
myfelf  a  large  brafs  Kettle,  in  a  former  divifion 
of  the  fpoil,  with  the  Cattle  let  it  be  convey'd, 
as  a  teftimony  of  the  love  I  bear  unto  her. 

CLARK.  What  ever  is  in  thy  heart  to  do,  that 
do  and  profper.  I  hear  that  twelve  thoufand 
are  to  keep  the  hills  to  day  ;  fpies  proclaim  fome 
motion  in  the  camp  of  the  Philiftians. 

LASH.  What  the  end  of  thefe  things  will  be, 
I  know  not;  but  as  my  foul  liveth  I  mean  not 


1 4  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

to  budge  a  jot  beyond  the  fummit  of  the  hill, 
keeping  in  full  view  and  practicable  acquifition, 
the  fort  called  Green. 

CLARK.  Know  you  not,  the  wife  determination 
of  the  Congrefs  on  that  head;  ftimulated  thereto, 
by  the  prudence  of  our  Generals  ;  who,  I  do  be 
lieve,  received  it  by  infpiration  ? 

LASH.  Ignorant  have  I  been  kept ;  but  unfold 
the  mighty  tydings,  for  I  already  perceive  they 
are  big  with  joy. 

CLARK.  Have  you  not  obferved,  with  what 
addrefs  the  fouthern  militias  are  drawn  hither? 

LASH.  That  they  are  here  I  know,  but  am  yet 
to  learn  the  fecret  caufe,  if  any  fecret  caufe  there 
be. 

CLARK.  Know,  then,  that  the  Marylanders, 
Pennfylvanians,  and  the  rife  regiments,  are 
moftly  compofed  of  Europeans ;  a  great  majority 
of  which  are  Irifh  and  Germans. 

LASH.  Thefe  things  I  am  no  ftranger  to  but 
ftill  lack  information. 

CLARK.  Which  way  foever  the  battle  tends, 
the  burthen  and  heat  of  it  will  be  theirs  ;  for  thus 
it  is  refolved,  to  fpare  the  natives,  and  make  no 
account  of  the  expenditure  of  the  Europeans;  feel 
you  not  the  power  of  infpiration  now? 

LASH.  Wonderful  !  truly  wonderful  workings 
of  wifdom  indeed  ! 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  15 

CLARK.  But  for  fome  twenty  head  of  cattle, 
the  gleanings  of  Gwanas,  in  the  orchard  of  one 
Bergen,  I  would  not  go  fo  far  :  thefe  once  ob 
tained,  we  will  be  near  each  other. 

Enter  Remfen,  without  a  hat,  his  hair  on  end; 
his  coat  torne,  and  every  mark  of  fear  about  him. 

LASH.  Mercy  !  mercy !  O  Lord,  where  are 
they  ? 

CLARK.  O  heavens  !  he  is  wounded  and  out 
of  his  fenfes  !  Dear  Colonel,  can  you  fpeak. 

REM.  Oh  !  Heere  Godt !  what  merciful  fcape  I 
get  this  time. —  Shentlemen,  have  you  feen  my 


CLARK.  No,  where  did  you  leave  it  ? —  Lord 
help  us  !  how  near  is  the  enemy. 

REM.  O  Godt!  O  Godt!  O  Godt !— Count 
the  bloodt  out  of  me  in  any  place. 

LASH.  Blood,  no ;  nor  can  I  fee  any  body 
coming  after  you  :  your  hurt,  I  fancy,  is  fear  ! 
Colonel  ;  and  your  wound  muft  be  fought  for  in 
your  breeches  !  but  compofe  yourfelf,  and  tell 
us  what  has  happened. 

REM.  Well,  I  will  tell  you,  then.  I  was,  yuft 
now,  van  the  head  of  my  regment,  clofe  up  be 
hind  Shon  van  Dinens  field.  I  keep  my  eye  on 
Arian  Morte  s  lane.  I  fee,  yuft  by  the  ground, 
fomething  creep  :  I  fay  my  regment,  take  care  of 


1 6  The  Eat  tie  of  Brooklyn. 

yourfelf  boys.  I  peep  again  mit  both  mine  eyes, 
and  fee  nothing  :  I  fay,  boys,  'tis  clofe  up  with 
us  now  —  they  begin  for  to  run  ;  my  horfe  he 
fee  the  danger  too,  and  carry  me  off:  Godt  knows 
I  get  here  ;  I  believe  the  reft  is  all  killed,  or 
taken  prifoners. 

Enter  an  Officer. 

Godt  blefs  you  ayndant,  where  is  the  regment  ? 

OFF.  Where  !  damn  them,  fcattered  in  every 
cover  between  this  and  the  place  where  you 
ftarted. 

REM.   Heere  Godt  !   all  Killed  ? 

OFF.  Killed  !  no,  nor  any  of  them  hurt  ex 
cept  four  or  five  that  you  rode  over  :  why  there 
was  not  a  regular  within  a  mile,  when  you  took 
fright. 

LASH.  O  you  ungodly  coward  !  out  from  the 
prefence  of  the  brave  !  (Kicks  him  qffl  and  exit 
after  him.} 

OFF.  That  fellow  kicks  as  awkward,  as  if  he 
foon  expected  the  same  difcipline  :  but  I  will  go 
and  try  if  poffible,  to  collect  our  heroes.  (Exit 
Officer.} 

CLARK.  What  credulous  ftuff,  thefe  New  York 
ers  are  made  of.  The  bill  of  lading  for  the  cattle 
and  horfes  will  be  in  my  name  only  :  Poor  La 
mer  !  not  a  hide  of  them  (halt  thou  have  to  put 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  17 

a  ftich  in  : — and  then  there  is  the  Kettle,  too  ! 
a  !  ha  !  ha  !     (Exit  laughing.) 

SCENE  a  ROOM  at  Brooklyn  Ferry. 
Enter  LADY  GATES  and  BETTY. 

BETTY.  After  Council,  Mem,  General  Wafh- 
ington  will  wait  of  you  ;  till  then  he  begs  your 
patience,  as  the  time  is  near  when  he  is  to  meet 
the  reft  of  the  Generals. 

LADY  G.  Council  !  a  pretty  collection  of 
Councillors,  indeed  ;  but  fince  it  muft  be  fo, 
you  mall  comply  with  your  promife  to  me,  girl, 
by  giving  me  the  narrative  of  Harrifon  and  your 
General  :  it  will  beguile  the  time. 

BETTY.  La,  mem,  you  fo  difcomfit  me  by 
claiming  this  promife,  that  I  am  ablufh  all  over. 

LADY  G.  Why,  Betty,  you  muft  have  aflumed 
the  bluming  trade  lately,  it  was  not  always  fo 
with  you. 

BETTY.  Indeed  your  Ladyfhip  does  not  make 
proper  allowances  for  neceflity  and  inexperience  — 
Fifty  dollars,  and  hard  ones  too  with  a  promife 
of  fifty  times  as  much  was  irrefiftable  :  but  Oh  ! 
the  nafty  beaft  !  I  almoft  puke  at  the  recollection. 

LADY  G.  Oh  !  that  muft  be  affectation,  for 
blefs  me  what  could  raife  fuch  ideas  ? 

BETTY.   Why,  he  is  fuch  a  flobbering,  odious, 
3 


1 8  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

unfavory  fmelling  creature,  that  I  wonder  any 
woman  in  the  world  could  fleep  a  night,  by  his 
fide. 

LADY  G.  And  yet  you  fee,  that  fifty  hard  dol 
lars,  made  you  put  up  for  a  night  with  all  the 
inconveniency  of  bad  fmells. 

BET.  Anight!  your  Ladyfhip  wrongs  me  very 
much  :  why  he  fhored  within  an  hour  !  and  the 
first  fnore  was  fignal  for  my  retreat.  I  am  fure, 
I  mould  have  been  a  corps,  if  I  had  been  obliged 
to  ftay  the  night. 

LADY  G.  Fifty  dollars  is  a  good  deal  of  money, 
Betty  ;  but  did  he  make  no  claim  upon  you 
afterwards  ? 

BET.  Indeed,  mem,  he  ftayed  from  Congress 
on  purpofe  to  teafe  me :  why  he  cry'd  and  faid 
he  was  in  liquor  that  night,  and  did  every  thing, 
I  think,  that  could  make  me  defpife  him,  but  all 
would  not  do. 

LADY  G.  And  there  your  affairs  ended  with 
Harrifon,  did  they  not,  Betty  ? 

BET.  Not  quite,  my  Lady  ;  for  when  he  found 
that  I  could  not  abide  him,  he  propofed  to  in 
troduce  General  Wafhington  to  me.  The  Gene 
ral  was  a  very  pretty  Gentleman,  and  I  confented 
to  it  on  purpofe  to  get  rid  of  Harrifon. 

LADY  G.  This  I  mould  have  imagined  a  favor 
able  change  myfelf,  Betty,  was  it  not. 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  19 

BET.  The  General  is  the  fweeteft,  meekeft,  me 
lancholy  fighing  Gentleman  ;  and  then  he  is  fuch 
a  warrior  —  O  mem,  I  mall  always  love  the  Gen 
eral. 

LADY  G.  And  among  his  other  qualifications, 
the  moft  liberal. 

BET.  Why,  my  Lady,  I  will  tell  you  honeftly: 
his  Excellency  gave  me  a  thirty  dollar  bill  ;  he 
allured  me  it  would  have  been  more,  but  that  he 
was  obliged  to  repay  Harrifon  the  fifty  hard  dol 
lars  that  he  had  given  me  :  now,  mem,  is  not 
Harrifon  a  dirty  fellow  in  every  fhape  that  you 
can  view  him  ? 

LADY  G.  No  great  things,  girl,  to  be  fure,  from 
your  account  of  him  ;  neither  is  your  meek,  me 
lancholy  hero,  from  my  own  obfervation. 

BET.  Lord  ! —  lord  ! —  mem,  did  he  not  make 
codfifh  of  them  all  at  Bofton  !  and  has  he  not  feen 
tory  men  rid  upon  rails  at  New  York  by  the  tail 
ors  and  cobblers  of  the  town  !  And  more,  my 
lady,  did  he  not  order  the  King's  ftatue  to  be 
pulled  down,  and  the  head  cut  off!  for  God's 
fake,  mem,  what  would  you  have  of  a  hero  ? 

LADY  G.  Codfifh  at  Bofton  !  it  is  really  an  odd 
term,  Betty  :  but  he  did  no  more  than  that  old 
fool  Putnam  would  have  done:  his  not  forbid 
ding  that  infultto  humanity,  at  New  York,  was 
countenancing  an  act  of  barbarifm  ;  and  none, 


2O  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

but  a  little  minded  barbarian  would  have  fuffered 
the  Arts  to  be  trampled  under  foot,  as  he  did,  in 
the  cafe  of  the  King's  ftatue. 

BET.  You  know  of  thefe  things  beft,  mem,  to 
be  fure  :  but  I  have  heard  the  New  England  offi 
cers  fay  that  he  mould  be  their  General  no  longer 
than  he  pleafed  them,  and  may  be,  they  would 
have  it  fo. 

LADY  G.  Be  affured,  girl,  that  if  he  had  native 
dignity  of  heart,  he  would  have  foon  convinced 
the  rabble,  that  they  muft  be  governed  by  him, 
notwithftanding  that  he  may  have  obtained  his 
power  by  an  ufurpation  from  themfelves  —  but 
hark  !  what  clamorous  noife  is  that  in  the  ftreet  ? 
run  and  learn.  (Exit  Betty.) 

There  appears  to  be  fome  commotion,  and  it 
grows  late  ;  I  begin  to  defpair  of  feeing  the  Gen 
eral. 

Enter  Betty. 

BET.  O,  my  lady,  do  not  let  us  wait  to  fee  the 
General.  The  New  England  Colonels  are  in  a 
mutiny  and  fay  they  will  not  fight,  if  the  boats 
are  not  all  ready  to  carry  their  men  off  to  New 
York,  when  they  run  away  :  let  us  go,  dear  mern, 
for  I  do  not  think  we  mall  be  fafe,  on  this  fide 
of  the  Alleghany  mountains. 

LADY  G.  I  will  take  your  advice  girl.  O  Ho 
ratio  !  that  you  mould  fully  your  laurels  in  the 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  2 1 

abominable   caufe   of  republican    Tyrants,   and 
Smugglers  in  power :   to  be  runnagate  for  fuch 
mifcreants,  almofl  diftracts  me.      (Exeunt.} 
The  SCENE  changes  to  Brooklyn  Church. 

WASHINGTON,  PUTNAM,  SULLIVAN 
and  ST I R  L I N  G  in  Council 

WASH.  Gentlemen,  fpies  from  Flat  Bum  in 
form  that  the  regulars  are  making  a  difpofition  to 
crofs  the  hills,  near  that  place. —  General  Put 
nam's  wifdom  in  ordering  that  road  to  be  flanked 
with  breaft  works  is  now  apparent.  Lord  Stir 
ling,  with  his  ufual  intrepidity  and  precifion,  has 
reconnoitered  their  numbers,  which  he  finds  to 
be  about  feven  thoufand.  General  Sullivan  has 
appointed  the  hill  with  exquifite  judgement  ; 
where  the  Brigades  under  him  and  Lord  Stirling 
are  to  take  poft  and  act  as  occafion  may  require  : 
twelve  thoufand  men  are  allotted  for  the  fervice 
offending  them  back  to  their  fhips.  I,  with  eight 
thoufand  will  flay  within  thefe  lines,  to  be  called 
out  to  the  daughter  and  purfuit,  unlefs  our  pre- 
fent  deliberations,  alter  this  plan  of  operation. 
My  Lord,  the  Council  expects  your  opinion. 

STIR.  I  rife  to  give  it  to  the  moft  refpedlable 
and  moft  puiflant  council  of  general  officers,  that 
this,  or  any  other  age  ever  produced.  I  would 
not  prefume  Gentlemen,  to  fpeak  in  this  place, 


22  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

without  being  confcious  that  I  pofTefs  the  energy 
and  oratory  of  a  Burke !  or  even  write  on  the 
fubjecT:,  but  that  I  feel  the  powers  and  the  pen  of 
Junlus !  That  I  reconnoitered  them  is  moft 
true;  and  if  my  weak  opinion  has  any  weight  in 
council  I  am  for  Jut 'rounding  them,  and  when  we 
have  got  them  hemmed  in,  I  am  then  for  fend 
ing  to  our  noble  Commander  in  chief  in  thefe 
lines, —  to  know  what  to  do  with  them. 

SUL.  Pompous,  flimfey,  drunken  fool.  (Afide.) 
The  noble  Lord  has  faid  nothing  againft  the  dif- 
pofition  that  the  General  had  pointed  out,  and  of 
which  I  approve. —  His  Lordfhip's  ideas  are  ex 
ceedingly  Jurrounding  ;  I  wifh  the  practice  may  be 
as  eafy  as  the  theory,  and  that  their  numbers  may 
not  exceed  feven  thoufand  : — but  if  the  council 
holds  the  opinion  of  General  Wafhington  and 
myfelf,  our  deliberations  are  at  an  end,  and  we 
cannot  be  to  foon  at  our  different  pofts. 

PUT.  I  this  morning  gave  the  chaps  another 
pill,  and  I  will  tell  you  how  ;  you  know  the  road 
to  Bedford,  a  little  on  this  fide  the  houfe  that  the 
bandy  legged  Jew  lived  in  ;  well,  d'ye  fee,  there 
is  on  each  fide  the  road,  a  ftone  wall,  near  three 
feet  high  ;  beyond  that  on  each  fide,  are  clear 
fields  —  what  do  you  think  I  have  done  there  ? 

STIR.  Why  fornething  like  a  great  officer,  no 
body  doubts. 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  23 

PUT.  Swamp  me,  if  I  have  not  hove  up  a  bread- 
work,  right  acrofs  the  road  from  wall  to  wall, — 
but  before  we  break  up,  determine,  Gentlemen, 
what  I  am  to  do  with  my  prifoners. 

STIR.  Right,  General,  I  mould  have  gone  to 
my  poft,  and  been  at  a  lofs  on  this  head. 

WASH.  Send  them  to  me  :  a  great  part  of  Fort 
Green  is  allotted  for  their  reception  ;  but  be  fure 
that  they  are  disarmed  and  well  guarded. 

STIR.  O,  to  be  fure,  undoubtedly,  Sir,  we  will 
take  care  of  that.  I  am  for  my  poft  :  Gentlemen 
farewell. 

PUT.  A  little  bufinefs  defpatched,  and  I  will 
call  upon  you  there.  (Exit  Stirling.] 

If  your  Excellency  mould  have  any  commands 
for  me  an  hour  hence,  I  may  be  found  upon  the 
Flat  Bum.  road  :  your  fervant,  Gentlemen.  (Exit 
Putnam.) 

WASH.  Good  betide  them  both. —  After  this 
fuftion,  a  little  fober  reafoning,  General  Sul 
livan,  may  fit  the  mind  for  the  doubtful  events 
of  war.  My  apprehensions  from  the  King's 
troops  believe  me  are  trifling,  compared  with  the 
rifque  we  run,  from  the  people  of  America  at 
large.  The  tyranny,  that  our  accurfed  ufurpa- 
tion  has  made  neceflary,  which  they  now  feel,  and 
feeling,  I  fear,  will  foon  make  them  fee  through 
the  difguife.  Their  rage  no  doubt  will  be  height- 


24  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

ened  by  the  {laughter  that  will  probably  enfue ; 
and  we,  as  members  of  the  Congrefs  fall  the  firft 
victims  of  it. —  O  Sullivan  !  my  heart  never  con- 
fented  to  this  ruin  of  my  native  country. 

SUL.  My  dear  General,  the  moments  for  re 
flection  are  elapfed,  and  irrecoverable.  Our  fafety 
is  firft  in  conqueft ;  if  that  is  denied  to  our  en 
deavors,  I  am  fure  we  can  obtain  better  terms 
from  our  much  injured  Sovereign,  then  from  our 
more  injured  country, —  but  wear  a  lefs  rueful 
countenance  ;  it  is  a  proverb  among  the  troops, 
that  their  General  is  much  melted  down,  lince 
the  fleet  arrived. 

WASH.  Our  foldiers  are  a  ftanding  miracle  to 
me;  they  define  fenfibly  upon  matters  that  are 
unimportant  to  them,  and  refign  their  powers  of 
thinkingto  us,  in  a  cafe  where  their  all  is  at  ftake  ; 
and  do  not  yet  difcover,  that  we  make  them  the 
engines  of  our  power  at  the  expenfe  of  all  that 
is  dear  and  facred  to  them  as  men  ! —  but  avaunt 
reflection  !  Our  hope,  my  dear  Sullivan,  is  in 
you  ;  every  command  of  ground  is  ours,  with  a 
perfect  knowledge  of  all  the  woods  and  defiles  : 
thefe  advantages,  at  the  leaft,  double  the  ftrength 
of  our  men  ;  and  if  we  cannot  defend  thefe,  I 
know  of  no  place  we  can. 

SUL.   All  things  that  depend  upon  me,  will,  I 
hope  meet  with  your  approbation,  and  I  mail  aim 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  25 

to  infufe  fuch  fenttments  into  the  troops,  that 
our  next  meeting  may  be  ufhered  in  with  greet 
ings  of  congratulation  ;  till  then,  my  dear  Gene 
ral,  farewell.  (Exit  Sullivan.) 

WASH.  Greetings  of  congratulation  !  oh!  could 
I  congratulate  myfelf,  on  finding  my  loft  peace  of 
mind  ! —  on  the  restoration  of  my  honor  !  O  ! 
curfed  ambition  !  what  have  I  facrificed  to  thee  ? 
An  ambition,  too,  of  foreign  growth  ;  obtruded 
upon  me  by  the  moft  artful,  infinuating  villains, 
that  ever  enflaved  a,  once,  free  and  happy  coun 
try.  To  behold  myfelf,  againft  my  principle  and 
better  judgment,  made  the  tool  of  their  diaboli 
cal  determinations  to  entail  a  war  upon  my  fellow 
fubjects  of  America. — Heigho  !  ho  !  (looking  at 
bis  watch)  Blefs  me,  fo  late  and  my  engagement 
to  a  lady  not  complied  with.  (Exit.) 

SCENE.      A  Room  in  a  Houje  at  Brooklyn. 
Enter  PUTNAM  and  SNUFFLE. 

SNUFF.  My  dear  General,  the  great,  the  im 
portant  day  advances  ;  big  with  the  fate  of  em 
pire,  in  the  united  States  of  America. 

PUT.   True,  good  Sir  :   and  I  laugh  to  think, 

that  when  we  have   eftablifhed    our   power,  and 

driven  thefe  red  coats  into  the  fea,  what  ripping 

information  you  Gentlemen  will  make  in  church 

4 


26  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

affairs.  Down  goes  Epifcopacy  and  Quakerifm, 
at  leaft.  I  hope  you  wont  leave  one  broad-brim 
on  the  continent. 

SNUFF.  Why  really,  General  we  mall  be  very 
apt  to  make. free  with  thofe  Gentlemen.  We 
have  long  beheld  with  a  jealous  eye,  the  growing 
power  of  the  Epifcopal  Clergy,  and  confidered 
them  as  the  only  obftacle  to  our  becoming  the 
heads  of  the  Church,  in  America,  a  dignity  which 
fo  properly  belongs  to  the  Elect,  and  for  which 
they  have  had  the  aflurance  to  contend  with  the 
Lord's  own  people.  As  for  the  Quakers,  who 
in  general  have  joined  the  tories  against  us,  we 
mall  not  fail  to  produce  an  <c  ancient  teftimony 
in  their  behalf:  I  mean  the  teftimony  of  our  fore 
fathers  :  till  with  fines,  whipping,  imprifonment, 
and  the  gallows,  we  have  extirpated  them  from 
the  face  of  the  earth. 

PUT.  In  the  mean  time,  we  fhall  not  be  behind 
hand  with  the  Tories  :  for  as  the  beft  eftates  in 
America  belong  to  them,  it  is  but  cooking  up 
fome  new  fangled  oath,  which  their  fqueamifh 
confciences  wont  let  them  fwallow;  then,  whip 
go  their  eftates,  like  a  juggler's  ninepence,  and 
themfelves  to  prifon,  to  be  hanged  as  traitors  to 
the  commonwealth. 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  27 

Enter  SKINNER. 

SNUFF.  Very  true,  my  dear  General :  but  here 
comes  one  of  your  officers.  I  will  retire,  to  offer 
up  my  prayers  for  the  fuccefs  of  our  arms,  while 
you  purfue  the  more  important  bufinefs  of  your 
department.  (Exit.) 

PUT.  Adieu,  Sir.  Well,  Skinner,  what  news 
with  you  ? 

SKIN.  The  horfes  are  delivered,  as  your  Ex 
cellency  directed.  They  are,  by  this  time,  well 
on  their  way  to  Connecticut ;  and  fo  elegant  a 
firing  of  nine  horfes,  are  not  to  be  picked  up 
again,  on  all  Long  Ifland. 

PUT.  My  letter  tells  me  they  are  clever 
horfes: — but  that  horfe  of  Polhemus  —  O  my 
heart  was  fet  upon  that  horfe :  you  let  him  flip 
through  your  fingers  careleflly,  Skinner :  or  did 
the  owner  of  him  tempt  you  with  a  bribe,  to 
leave  him — I  wifh  to  know  where  he  is  ? 

SKIN.  I  know  where  he  is,  to  the  length  of  my 
whip.  I  carelefs  !  I  take  a  bribe! — why  the 
General  fhould  know  me  better,  the  horfe  is  at 
Harlem. 

PUT.  At  Harlem  ! — why  what  notion  of  de 
viltry  could  fend  him  there  !  Is  there  any  body 
but  us  upon  the  lay,  on  this  Ifland. 

SKIN.  What's  his  name  brought  him  there  — 


28  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

damn  his  name,  I  can't  remember  it,  he  is    Ton 
however,  to  the  Governor  of  Rhode  Ifland. 

PUT.  O  ho  !  then  I  quite  excufe  you  ;  you  are 
too  young  in  the  bufinefs  to  be  a  match  for 
young  Fitch  :  he  inherits  his  father's  talents.  I 
had  expectation  though,  that  wefhouldhave  done 
better,  with  your  knowledge  of  the  country  and 
other  advantages  ; — I  had  reckoned  upon  twenty 
horfes. 

SKIN.  I  myfelf,  Sir,  thought  that  number  fure, 
but  he  lay  in  my  rear  and  brought  off  fix  that  I 
had  reconnoitered. 

PUT.  Well,  Skinner,  as  the  bufinefs  is  over  for 
the  prefent,  and  we  expect  bloody  nofes  in  a  few 
hours,  there  is  a  hundred  dollars  for  your  en 
couragement.  (Gives  him  a  handfull  of  Congrejs 
notes]  Go  over,  now,  and  join  your  regiment. 

SKIN.  I  hope  your  Excellency  will  reconfider 
the  matter,  and  make  it  more ;  there  is  not  one 
of  thofe  horfes  but  what  is  worth  more  than  a 
hundred  and  fifty  foft  dollars  —  confider,  Sir  ! 

PUT.  Confider  —  why  you  are  an  unreafona- 
ble  whelp  !  do  you  confider,  that  I  took  you 
from  ferving  drams  to  Negroes,  for  your  mother 
Fofter  at  Rockaway  and  robbing  the  neighboring 
hen  roofts  for  a  livlihood  !  From  petty  larceny, 
you  cur,  I  put  you  at  the  head  of  the  proceflion; 
procured  you  a  lieutenant's  commiflion,  and  a 


The  Eat  tie  of  Brooklyn.  29 

feparate  command  to  hunt  tories  on  this  ifland 
in  order  to  pufh  you  forward — and  dare  you 
grumble  ? 

SKIN.  I  do  not  grumble,  but  fifty  dollars  more 
would  enable  me  to  take  the  field  with  credit :  it 
would  make  my  regimentals  my  own. 

PUT.  I  feldom  miftake  my  men  :  I  knew  that 
you  had  talents,  Skinner,  or  I  mould  not  have 
employed  you  ;  I  will  therefore  point  out  a  fund 
for  you  to  raife  the  fifty  dollars  more.  Remem 
ber,  Sir,  the  fuzee  you  filched  at  Merrick  ;  item, 
the  two  watches,  rings  &c,  &c,  at  feveral  other 
places  ;  you  gave  me  no  account  of  thefe,  though 
I  had  an  equitable  demand  upon  you  for  half. 
There  is  a  fifty  dollar  fund  for  you, — dont  you 
think,  young  man,  to  catch  old  birds  with  chaff. 
It  is  near  night  :  I  muft  to  my  poft,  and  get  you 
over  the  ferry  to  your  duty.  (Exit  Putnam.) 

SKIN.  What  a  damn'd  old  fcoundrel  he  is : 
how  the  devil  did  he  know  of  the  gun  and  the 
other  things  ? — In  future  I  will  do  bufinefs  for 
myfelf.  (Exit.) 


30  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 


ACT  II. 

SCENE  a  HILL  at  Gwanas  about  two  miles 
from  Brooklyn  lines  ^  with  an  encampment  on  it.  Time, 
about  three  o'clock  in  tbe  morning. 

Enter  a  SOLDIER. 

SOL.  Where's  General  Stirling? — hollo,  Gen 
eral  Stirling  !  —  Zounds  how  dark  it  is. 

(Enter  Stirling  half  dre/ed.} 

STIR.  For  God's  fake  !  what  is  the  matter 
fen  try  ? 

SOL.  Here,  Sir  !  it  is  I  that  call,  to  inform 
your  Lordfhip,  there  has  been  a  great  deal  of 
mooting  towards  the  Red  Lion  within  this  little 
while  : — there  !  there  it  begins  again. 

STIR.  It  does  indeed  :  do  you  think  it  comes 
any  thing  nearer  fentry  ? 

SOL.  Rather  nearer,  if  anything;  though  much 
in  the  fame  place. 

STIR.  Run,  fentry,  to  the  rear,  make  my  re- 
fpects  to  General  Sullivan,  and  beg  of  him  to 
come  hither. 

SOL.  I  will,  my  Lord.  There  it  goes  again  ; 
ripping  work  my  Lord  !  (Exit  Soldier.) 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  3 1 

STIR.  Now  will  I  endeavour  to  get  button'd 
up  and  my  garters  tied. 

Enter  CLARK. 

O  Colonel  Clark !  from  whence  —  from  whence 
are  you  come? 

CLARK,  From  where  our  out  fentries  are  at 
tacked.  I  fee  you  are  getting  ready,  my  Lord. 

STIR.  But  where  are  they  attacked  ?  Where 
is  the  enemy?  Are  there  many  of  them — are 
they  coming  forward  —  is  any  body  killed,  fay 
dear  Will  ? 

CLARK.  I  cannot  tell  you  half  of  what  you 
have  already  afked  me  ;  but  I  will  tell  you  all 
I  know.  They  fent  a  Captain  to  relieve  me  :  I 
would  not  be  relieved  by  a  Captain,  fo  I  went  to 
fleep  at  one  Bergen's,  from  whence  the  out  fen- 
tries  were  relieved.  This  Bergen  awaked  me  a 
while  ago,  and  faid  there  was  (hooting  in  his  field. 

STIR.  God  blefs  me!  mooting  in  his  field! 
was  it  near  the  houfe  ? 

CLARK.  Very  near,  fo  I  ftole  out,  for  I  knew 
the  road  dark  as  it  was.  Every  thing  was  ftill, 
as  if  nothing  had  happened  ;  except  fome  groans 
of  dying  men  that  appeared  to  be  at  a  little  dif- 
tance.  But  I  have  feen  nothing,  nor  heard  any 
thing  by  the  way. 

STIR.   Then  their  numbers  are  ftill  a  fecret  ? 


32  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

CLARK.  I  will  be  bound  there  are  not  fifty  of 
them,  or  there  would  have  been  fome  noife. 

STIR.  O  damn  it  !  'tis  nothing  but  a  fcouting 
party. —  Come  Colonel,  we  will  take  a  whiftle 
from  my  canteens. 

CLARK.  With  all  my  heart  my  Lord. —  Poi- 
fon  take  the  canteens  ;  I  have  loft  the  cattle  that 
were  in  Bergen's  orchard.  (Afide.) 

Enter  five  Soldiers. 

What  are  thefe  !   who  are  you  ? 

IST  SOL.  We  are  the  remains  of  the  out  poft 
guard,  your  honours. 

STIR.  And  where  are  the  reft  of  the  guard, 
my  good  lads. 

TST  SOL.   In  Sarah's  bofom,  I  hope. 

20  SOL.  In  Abraham's  bofom  he  means,  noble 
General. 

IST  SOL.  Blood-an-oons,  is  not  me  his  wife? 
which  makes  it  ail  one. 

STIR.  Leave  off  this  trifling,  and  tell  me  what 
you  know. 

IST  SOL.  Your  honour  muft  know,  that  we 
was  ftanding  by  the  end  of  a  fide  of  an  Indian 
cornfield,  up  yonder  a  piece.  We  heard  fome- 
thing  ruftle  among  the  water-mellon  leaves,  and 
faw  fomething  move;  we  bid  them  ftand  and 
blazed  away  like  brave  boys. 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  33 

STIR.   Well,  my  lad,  and  what  followed  ? 

IST  SOL.  Followed  !  by  my  foul,  a  fharp 
iron  thing,  that  they  call  a  bayonet. 

STIR.  And  what  then  ? 

IST.  SOL.  What  then  I  your  honour!  why  to 
be  fure,  the  few  that  could  run,  run  away  ;  and 
then  all  was  peace  and  quietnefs. 

STIR.  Do  you  not  know  then,  how  many 
there  were  ? 

IST.  SOL.  How  many  !  your  honour  muft 
know,  that  they  were  fpeechlefs ;  they  carried 
their  tongues  in  them  damn'd  bayonets,  and 
moft  of  our  guard,  I  believe,  are  eating  break- 
far!  with  their  great-grand-fathers  ? 

STIR.    What  corps  do  you  belong  to  ? 

IST  SOL.  Pennfylvanians,  an  pleafe  your 
honour. 

STIR.  Go,  and  join  your  regiment.  (Exit 
Soldiers?)  Colonel  Clark,  as  it  begins  to  be 
light,  go  and  get  intelligence.  I  every  moment 
expect  General  Sullivan  :  one  or  the  other  of  us 
you  will  find  here,  to  make  a  report  to. 

CLARK.  I  (hall  not  ftay  long,  my  Lord.  (Exit 
Clark). 

STIR.  I  begin  to  feel  eafy  ;  it  has  been  but  a 
fcouting  party  ;  and  they  have  gone  back  again. 
It  is  a  devilifh  raw  morning,  and  I  muft  have 
fomething  to  keep  the  cold  out.  (Exit.) 

5 


34  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

SCENE  —  a  HILL,   with    troops    drawn    up, 
under  arms. 

Time,  broad  day-light. 

Enter  SULLIVAN  and  STIRLING. 

STIR.  Well,  do  you  not  think,  from  the  ex 
amination  of  thefe  fellows,  that  it  was  a  mere 
fcouting  party  that  furprized  the  guard? 

SUL.  Their  filence,  my  Lord,  with  me,  marks 
order  and  good  conduct :  befides  they  do  not 
make  war  by  fcouting  parties  —  but  here  comes 
Colonel  Clark. 

Enter  Clark. 

CLARK.  Gentlemen,  the  regulars  are  in  mo 
tion  :  they  are  numerous,  and  will  be  here 
within  an  hour.  From  yonder  hill,  I  looked 
down  upon  them. 

STIR.  Good  Colonel  have  they  any  artillery 
with  them  ? 

CLARK.  I  know  not,  my  Lord;  but  I  muft 
away  and  join  my  men.  O  what  a  fcrape  thofe 
cattle  have  brought  me  into.  I  am  afraid  I 
(hall  be  obliged  to  fight  at  laft.  (Aside  and 
exit.) 

SUL.  Well,  my  Lord,  will  you  make  a  difpo- 
fition  for  your  favorite  fcheme  of  furrounding  ? 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  35 

STIR.  For  God's  fake,  dear  General,  don't 
mention  it,  I  did  not  expert  them  this  way.  Our 
whole  dependance  is  upon  you,  my  dear  General; 
but  do  not  let  them  cut  off  our  retreat. 

SUL.  Let  your  brigades  immediately  take 
poft  in  the  bottom,  and  extend  from  the  fmall 
houfe  below,  as  far  as  the  ftone  houfe  upon  the 
left ;  and  farther,  if  the  hill  gives  them  cover  : 
let  them  approach  as  near  the  road  as  pofTible, 
without  being  difcovered.  The  Pennfylvanians 
are  to  draw  up,  at  the  foot  of  this  hill,  in  full 
view  of  the  enemy.  From  their  uniform  they 
may  be  taken  for  Heffians  ;  and  the  fire  from 
the  brigades  be  more  completely  furprizing  and 
effectual. 

STIR.  It  fhall  be  done.  Oh  !  it  mall  be  done. 
(Exit  Stirling). 

SUL.  If  they  mould  force  thefe  brigades  to  the 
hill,  we  can  eafily  maintain  this  poft,  againft  the 
united  force  of  Britain,  without  lofs  :  and  make 
the  retreat  to  our  lines,  when  we  pleafe  unmo- 
lefted. 

Re-enter  STIRLING. 

STIR.  The  Brigades  are  jiifpofed,  as  your 
Excellency  directed  ;  and  the  regulars  are  nearly 
up  to  them  ;  you  will  fee  their  advanced  guard 
pafs  the  ftone  houfe,  directly. 


36  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

SUL.  There  they  are,  and  have  difcovered  the 
Pennfylvanians  for  they  have  quited  the  road, 
and  pufh  towards  them. 

STIR.  I  hope  to  God  they  will  pufh  back 
again,  as  foon  as  our  fire  begins.  O  !  there 
they  go  —  well  fired  my  boys!  they  cannot 
{land  this  !  you'll  fee,  they  will  pufh  directly, 
General. 

SUL.  I  fee  they  do  pufh,  but  it  is  with  their 
bayonets,  and  our  men  are  fcampering  towards 
us. 

Enter  a  Pennfylvanian  hajlily. 

Stop  foldier,  you  are  far  enough. 

PEN.  I  will  be  judge  of  that  my  dear;  for 
by  my  foul,  honey,  you  have  brought  old  Ireland 
about  your  ears,  at  laft  ;  and  we  can  find  the 
way  to  eat  iron  without  afking  fuch  vermin  as 
you  for  victuals.  (Exit). 

STIR.   Dear  General,  what  fhall  we  do  now  ? 

SUL.   Ply  the  artillery  as  far  as  poffible. 

Enter  an  Officer. 

OFF.  Towards  the  fouth,  an  inceflant  firing 
has  prevailed  for  half  an  hour,  nor  has  it  ought 
approached  :  my  poft  is  that  way  advanced,  but 
I  thought  my  duty  bid  me  quit  it,  to  give  you 
this  information. 


The  Eat  tie  of  Brooklyn.  37 

SUL.  You  have  my  thanks.  To  your  poft 
again,  and  let  me  be  fpeedily  informed,  if  the 
firing  approaches.  (Exit  Officer). 

While  they  are  kept  at  bay  my  Lord  we  are 
fafe  upon  this  hill. 

STIR.  But  yet  we  mould  prepare  for  a  re 
treat—for  fee,  where  they  fearlefs  climb  up 
yonder  hill. 

SUL.  There  is  nothing  to  obftrucl  us  in  our 
rear,  my  Lord,  we  will  retreat  in  good  time. 

Enter  Clark. 

CLARK.  Loft  !  O  Lord  !  undone  !  ruined  ! 
deftroyed  ! 

SUL.  Amazement  !   what  ails  the  man  ? 

CLARK.  In  the  rear  —  there  in  our  rear  —  no 
retreat  !  no  retreat ! 

SUL.  Too  true  —  there  is  part  of  the  royal 
army,  indeed,  between  us  and  our  lines. 

STIR.  O  General  Sullivan  !  General  Sullivan  ! 
what  do  you  think  of  it  now  ? 

SUL.  This  I  now  know,  my  Lord,  that  we 
heaven-born  Generals  are  exceedingly  apt  to  lead 
our  troops,  to  the  devil. 

STIR.   But  my  dear  General,  what  mall  we  do  ? 

SUL.  Just  what  you  pleafe,  every  man  is  now 
his  own  General,  so  Gentlemen  farewel.  (Exit.) 


38  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

STIR.   Do  not  leave  me  alfo  Colonel  Clark. 

0  Lord  incline  their  hearts  to  mercy. 
CLARK.  Amen,  and  amen.     I  hope,  however, 

we  are  not  of  confequence  to  be  hanged.     This 
way,  my  Lord,  this  way. 

SCENE  —  FORT   GREEN,    in    Brooklyn   Lines: 
A  Centinelon  one  of  the  Merlins,  looking  out. 

Enter  WASHINGTON. 

WASH.  What  do  you  look  fo  earneftly  at, 
Sentry  ? 

CEN.  At  our  people,  Sir,  that  are  fetting  fire 
to  the  houfes  and  barns  in  their  retreat. 

WASH.  What,  are  they  retreating  then  ? 

CEN.  Look  this  way,  Sir;  there  they  run  like 
fo  many  deer,  and  will  get  in :  but  the  poor 
fouls  yonder,  that  come  acrofs  the  meadow,  and 
attempt  to  crofs  the  mill  creek ;  O,  what  a 
number  of  them  flick  in  the  mud,  and  the 
ftronger  ones  make  a  bridge  of  them. 

WASH.  All  other  retreat  muft  be  cut  off;  but 

1  (hall  foon  know  the   event,  for   there   comes 
Putnam  galloping. 

Enter  Putnam. 

What  is  the  difafter  ?  What  news  do  you 
bring  me  General  Putnam. 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  39 

PUT.  This  is  no  Bofton  work,  Sir;  they  are  in 
earneft !  Orders  muft  be  immediately  iflued 
for  the  boats  to  be  in  readinefs  to  carry  our 
people  over  to  New  York. 

WASH.  There  is  time  enough  for  that  General 
Putnam,  after  we  have  defended  thefe  works  ; 
the  account  of  the  Battle  is  what  I  wifh  to  hear. 

PUT.  Defend,  Sir  !  we  cannot  defend  thefe 
works  ;  our  people  won't  defend  them  ;  if  they 
do  not  fee  the  boats,  they  will  fwim  over,  they 
won't  be  hemmed  in  to  be  made  minc'd  of.  If 
you  don't  give  your  orders,  I  will  give  the 
-orders  myself. 

WASH.  If  it  muft  be  fo,  the  orders  mall 
originate  with  me;  and  as  foon  as  you  have 
fatiffied  me  on  the  fate  of  the  day  proper 
meafures  mall  be  taken.  % 

PUT.  Accurfed  fate,  indeed,  and  moft  im 
pious,  for  they  took  us  fafting  ;  and  then  they 
deceived  us  —  a  moft  devilifh  deception  too; 
for  they  did  not  come  any  one  way  that  we  had 
marked  out  for  them. 

WASH.  Well,  but  you  had  the  woods,  and 
the  hills,  and  every  other  advantage.  The 
riflemen  did  great  execution  from  behind  the 
trees,  furely  ! 

PUT.  Zounds  !  Sir,  the  regulars  did  all  t",e 
execution  !  They  know  that  rifle-men  are  deer 


40  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

killers  !  —  Rifle  guns  and  rifle  frocks,  will  be  as 
cheap  in  their  camp  to-morrow,  as  cods  heads 
in  New  Foundland.  —  But  the  orders  Sir  ;  there 
is  no  time  to  be  loft ;  they  are  at  our  heels. 

WASH.  Have  patience,  General,  What  is  our 
lofs  ?  Where  are  the  other  Generals  ? 

Put.  How  can  I  tell,  where  they  are,  or  what 
our  lofs  really  is  ;  but  I  am  fure  it  is  thoufands. 
Good  God,  Sir,  let  us  make  hafte  to  fave  what 
is  not  loft. 

WASH.  This,  General  Putnam,  is  againft  my 
will  ;  but  I  wait  on  you  to  execute  yours. 
(Exeunt.} 

SCENE — a  Room  at  Brooklyn  Ferry. 

Enter    Noah,   Solus,   his   clothes   covered   with 
creek  mud. 

NOAH.  Notwithftanding  your  dirty  condi 
tion,  Mr.  Noah,  I  congratulate  you  on  your 
fafe  arrival  into  your  old  quarters  ;  neither 
hol'd  by  mufquet  balls,  nor  fwelled  up  with  fait 
water  and  creek  mud.  Thanks  to  my  activity 
that  I  am  not  crabs  meat  with  the  reft. 

Enter  King. 

Welcome,  Joe  ;  dripping  from  the  creek,  I 
fee  ;  but  1  am  glad  to  fee  you  alive  ! 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  41 

KING.  Confirm  it,  that  I  am  really  alive,  for 
I  feel  fome  doubts  about  it. 

No.   Don't  you-  know  me,  then  ? 

KING.  As  well  as  I  know  myfelf,  Noah ;  but 
are  we  not  both  in  the  other  world. 

No.  Why,  man,  look  about  you  ;  and  you 
will  find  this  to  be  the  very  room  that  we  have 
inhabited  for  fome  time  part. 

KING.  My  fenfes,  good  Noah,  claim  convic 
tion  :  fomething,  first,  to  cherifh  me,  and  then 
I  may  be  convinced,  that  I  can,  with  propriety, 
talk  upon  fublunary  fubjects. 

No.  Behold,  Joe,  this  pocket  bottle;  one- 
half  of  its  contents,  I  prefcribe  to  your  convic 
tion  and  reftoration. 

KING.  (Drinks.}  Now  I  return  your  congratu 
lations,  and  am  heartily  glad  to  find  you  on 
this  fide  the  grave  —  but,  Noah,  what  has  be 
come  of  our  Generals? 

No.  Killed  or  taken  prifoners;  but  I  fuppofe 
the  latter.  My  poor  General,  I  quite  lament 
him. 

KING.  Mine  is  under  the  fame  predicament, 
but  I  have  not  a  pity  for  him  :  — nor  should  I 
love  you  very  much,  if  I  thought  you  ferious  in 
your  lamentation. 

No.  Confider;  he  and  I  were  brought  up 
together :  we  went  together  to  fea  before  the 


42  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

maft,  and  fince  he  commenced  lawyer,  he  main 
tained  a  fuit  for  me  againft  my  mother,  and  got 
the  caufe. 

KING.  Confound  the  dog  !  But  was  he  really 
a  lawyer,  and  did  he  influence  you,  to  commence 
an  action  againft  your  mother? 

No.  He  !  —  why,  that  fellow,  drank  flip  every 
night  with  the  common  people  of  our  town  of 
Berwick,  and  had  art  enough,  to  influence  them 
to  all  his  ends. 

KING.  And  fome  hundreds  of  the  common 
people  has  he  influenced  to  their  end,  this  day. 
But,  for  God's  fake,  Noah,  how  came  a  man  of 
your  underftanding,  in  the  capacity  of  this  fel 
low's  fervant  ? 

No.  Without  doubt,  I  might  have  ftarted 
with  a  regiment,  and  probably,  have  been,  my- 
felf,  a  general  by  this  time.  But  I  faw  through 
their,  topfy-turvey  schemes;  —  though  I  was 
obliged  to  float  with  the  tide  I  knew  the  poft  of 
honour,  would  be  the  moft  private  ftatio-n.  But 
Sullivan  will  be  a  lofs  to  his  family. 

KING.  So  will  not  Stirling.  He  will  be  a  lofs 
to  no  body  but  thofe  that  find  him.  Had 
Sullivan  any  property  ? 

No.  Moft  excellent  property,  for  he  made  a 
property  of  weaknefs  and  ignorance,  and  con- 
fequently  had  an  extenfive  fund.  —  But  yours 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  43 

was  a  titled  general,  and  I  suppofe  very  full  of 
property  ;  as  he  has  often  declared  he  was  of 
principle. 

KING.  His  principle,  Noah,  has  for  years 
paft,  been  to  withhold  other  people's  property 
from  them  ;  and  when  all  the  refources  of  art 
failed,  his  eftate  was  expofed  to  fale  by  virtue  of 
an  execution :  But  he  refifted  the  Sheriff,  and 
declared  himfelf  a  partizan  of  confufion  becaufe 
law  and  order,  would  compel  him  to  acts  of 
juflice.  —  But  do  you  recollect,  that  this  is  the 
fail  day  ? 

No.  Is  it  really  !  then  it  is  one  of  the  baits, 
which  the  Continental  Congrefs  threw  out,  for 
the  people  of  America  to  bite  at;  and  the  event 
gives  the  lie  to  the  inflaming  and  prophetic 
oratory,  this  day  refounded  from  the  pulpits  of 
New  England.  A  day,  on  which,  Heaven  has 
difcarded  them  and  difavowed  their  caufe,  in  a 
remarkable  manner.  O  King,  our  preachers 
prevented  this  unhappy  difpute  from  coming  to 
a  bloodlefs  iffue. 

KING.  It  is  a  maxim  with  the  Congrefs  at 
Philadelphia  that  by  the  marvellous,  the  vulgar 
are  to  be  robb'd  of  their  reafon  ;  but  heaven 
has  rejected  the  facrifice,  that  the  people  may 
open  their  eyes,  and  be  no  longer  the  dupes  of 
their  tyranny,  deception  and  bloodmed. 


44  The  Battle  of  Brooklyn. 

No.  From  the  firft  meeting  of  that  Hydra  at 
Philadelphia,  its  fixty-four  mouths,  have  all  been 
open  to  devour  two  ftrangers  ! 

KING.  Devouring  mouths,  I  know  they  are  ; 
but  what  ftrangers  do  you  point  at. 

No.   Power  !   and  Riches  ! 

KING  True,  very  true  —  ftrangers  indeed  to 
moft  of  them  :  the  firft  they  have  amply  ufurped 
from  the  people,  and  have  art  enough  to  make 
ufe  of  them  as  instruments,  to  confirm  the 
ufurpation. 

No.  They  are  indeed,  fuch  monopolizers  of 
liberty,  that  they  do  not  fuffer  other  people  to 
follow  their  inclinations  :  but  as  we  know  and 
confequently  deteft  their  machinations;  let  us 
avail  ourfelves  of  the  character  of  fervants,  and 
the  confufion  of  retreat  to  lie  concealed,  until 
they  are  clear  of  the  Ifland. 

KING.  Agreed  ;  and  in  order  that  we  may 
claim  the  mercy  that  our  good  old  mafter  has 
extended  to  his  erring  fervants,  and  return  to 
that  authority  which  never  opprefled  a  fubjecl ; 
let  us  renew  our  allegiance  to  the  moft  amiable 
and  virtuous  Prince  that  ever  fwayed  fceptre  ; 
and  join  our  weak  endeavours,  in  fupporting  a 
conftitution,  that  has  been,  at  once,  the  envy 
and  admiration  of  the  whole  world. 

No.   I  honour  your  fentiments  because  I  ex- 


The  Battle  of  Brooklyn.  45 

perimentally  know  them  to  be  juft.  And  O  ! 
almighty  difpofer  of  human  events,  open  the 
eyes  of  my  deluded  fellow  fubjects,  in  this,  once, 
happy  country  :  encourage  them  to  a  free  exer- 
cife  of  that  reafon,  which  is  the  portion  of  every 
individual,  that  each  may  judge  for  himfelf : 
then  peace  and  order  will  fmile,  triumphant, 
over  the  rugged  face  of  war  and  horror  ;  the 
fame  hand  that  fows  mall  reap  the  field  ;  and 
our  vines  and  vineyards  mall  be  our  own. 
(Exeunt  omnes.) 


THE  END. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


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